Rotary switch



Nov. 20, 1956 D. G. KIMBALL ROTARY SWITCH Filed Nov. 19, 1954 [r2Mentor: Dona/0 6. /1/}77ba//, MM 4 awe/(w HAS A C C or-mgg.

ROTARY SWITCH Donald G. Kimball, Stratforti, Coma, assigaor to GeneralElectric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 1?,1954, Serial No. 469,993 6 Claims. (Ci. 21937) This invention relates toa multi-position rotary switch of the type used to provide severaldifferent settings for electrical apparatus; more particularly, theinvention relates to a rotary switch of the type used on electric rangesin conjunction with a range back-splash.

It is highly desirable that range switches be equipped with pilot lightswhich operate as soon as the switch is turned away from its offposition. The presence of a pilot light serves to warn the rangeoperator of a possible hazard when the switch is set for a high heat andthere is nothing being heated on the burner controlled by the switch.Where the operator inadvertently leaves the switch at a low settingafter the cooking operation is completed, the pilot light warns thatelectric power is being wasted. While the desirability of pilot lightsis obvious, they are sometimes so inaccessible that a housewife will notgo to the trouble of replacing a pilot light which has burned out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary switchhaving a pilot light that is readily replaceable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary range switch andback-splash assembly having a pilot light which may be replaced withoutdismantling the range assembly or moving the range.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specification considered in conjunction with the annexeddrawing which is a perspective cutaway view of a range back-splashequipped with a rotary switch constructed in accordance with thisinvention.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one of its aspects, the invention isdirected to a switch assembly comprising a rotary switch having arotatable control shaft projecting outwardly therefrom, a control drummounted on the control shaft, a stationary pilot lamp socket positionedon the interior of the control drum, and an access door in the peripheryof the control drum, the access door providing an opening to theinterior of the drum for changing pilot lights mounted in the lampsocket.

Referring to the drawing, a range back-splash 10 defines an interiorspace within which is mounted a rotary switch 11 having a rotatablecontrol shaft 12 projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced relation to anaperture 13 through the top surface of the back-splash It). The rotaryswitch 11 may be of the conventional type wherein rotation of the shaft12 turns a cam surface (not shown) which engages a plurality of springswitch contacts (not shown) to bring about a prearranged contact closingpattern as the shaft 12 is rotated. The rotary switch 11 is maintainedin position on the interior surface of the backsplash 10 by means of apair of mounting straps 14 and screw members 15.

Mounted upon the control shaft 12 is a drum 16 having a peripheralportion which extends through the aperture 13 above the top level of theback-splash 10. The drum 16 is fixedly mounted upon the shaft 12 bymeans of set screw 16a and has its peripheral surface provided Patent2,771,535 Patented Nov. 20, 1956 with a plurality of transversecorrugations 17 in order to improve the ease of manual rotation thereof.One side of the drum 16 is provided with a plurality of indicatingapertures 18 to show the setting of the switch 11. A portion of theperipheral surface of the drum 16 consists of an access door 19 biasedto a closed position by means of a coil spring 21 at the hinge 22 of theaccess door 19. v

Extending into the interior of the drum 16 is a stationary lamp supportpiece 23 mounted upon the rotary switch 11. The end of the support piece23 on the interior of the drum 16 has a lamp socket 24 mounted thereon,the socket 24 being aimed in a direction to position a pilot light 25mounted therein so that it can transmit light through whichever one ofthe indicating apertures 18 is positioned above the top level of thebacksplash 10.

The switch assembly is shown in the off position at which time the pilotlight 25 is also oif. Upon rotation of the drum 16, the rotary switch 11is given a different setting and the pilot light 25 is actuated. Thelight remains actuated until such time as the drum 16 is again rotatedto the ofi position. If the pilot light 25 burns out, it is onlynecessary to turn the drum 16 to the off position shown and open theaccess door 19 in order to unscrew the pilot light 25 and replace itwith a fresh lamp.

A housewife who is afraid to tamper with electrical contrivances will bewilling to perform the simple manipulations necessary to change thepilot light of this invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to a singleembodiment, it is obvious that there are many variations which will comewithin the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is limitedin scope only as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In an electric range, a back-splash having an opening on the topsurface thereof for accommodating a switch control drum, a rotary burnercontrol switch mounted on the interior of said back-splash, said switchhaving a rotatable control shaft projecting outwardly therefrom inspaced relation with respect to said opening, a control drum mounted onsaid control shaft, said control drum having a peripheral portionextending through said opening a short distance above the top level ofsaid back-splash, a pilot lamp fixedly mounted with respect to saidback-splash on the interior of said control drum, said lamp having aportion protruding through said opening above the surface of saidback-splash, and an access door in the periphery of said control drum,said access door providing an opening to the interior of said drum forchanging pilot lamps.

2. An electric switch assembly comprising a rotary switch having arotatable control shaft projecting outwardly therefrom, a control drummounted on said control shaft, a pilot lamp socket fixedly positionedwith respect to said rotary switch on the interior of said control drum,and an access door in the periphery of said control drum, said accessdoor providing an opening to the interior of said drum for removing andreplacing the pilot lamp mounted in said socket.

3. An electric switch assembly comprising a rotary switch having arotatable control shaft projecting outwardly therefrom, a drum fixedlymounted on said rotatable shaft, a rigid support piece mounted on saidswitch and extending into the interior of said drum, a pilot lamp socketmounted on the portion of said support piece positioned inside saiddrum, a lamp mounted in said socket in a position to transmit lightthrough the sides of said drum at the periphery thereof, and an accessdoor in the periphery of said drum in spaced relation to said lampwhereby said door may be opened outwardly and said lamp replaced.

. 4. An electric switch assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein theperipheral portion of one side of the drum is marked with a plurality ofdrum position indicators.

5. An electric switch assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein theperipheral surface of the drum includes a plurality of transversecorrugations.

6. In an electric range, a back-splash defining an interior space, atleast one aperture in the top surface of said back-splash foraccommodating a switch control drum, a rotary burner control switchmounted on the interior of said back-splash, said rotary switch having arotatable control shaft projecting outwardly therefrom in a positionbelow said aperture, a control drum fixedly mounted on said rotatableshaft, a portion of said drum extending through said aperture, a rigidsupport piece mounted on said rotary switch and extending into theReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,002,251 Sensiba et al. May 21, 1935 2,339,904 Almquist Jan. 25, 19442,541,892 Schulze Feb. 13, 1951 2,610,237 Benner Sept. 9, 1952 2,607,873Sheidler Aug. 19, 1952 2,713,103 Slate July 12,1955

